Baoning hurriedly went to scoop it up, and the water was burned down to a layer of noodles. The noodles that were originally distinct became a dough ball, and the bottom was black.

Baoning asked: "What should we do?"

"People can't eat it." Pei Yuan frowned and looked at it, "Feed it to the dog."

Baoning was a little hesitant: "Not so good, right?"

Pei Yuan said: "It's good, not a waste."

He went out and blew a whistle, and Ah Huang and Jixiang came running. Pei Yuan threw the bowl on the ground, went back to the house, and changed clothes with Baoning before going to the courtyard where Emperor Zhou was.

After such a farce, Emperor Zhou had no intention of going to the palace. He would return to the capital tomorrow and rest in the manor tonight. It was

the first time that Baoning saw the emperor's style.

Ambergris was lit in the house, and the fragrance was mellow. A room full of beautiful palace maids, all young and graceful, stood in a long line, stretching from the dining table to the door, all with their heads down and no words spoken. The bowls and chopsticks on the table were all pure silver, with dragons and phoenixes carved on them, and the chopsticks were also exquisite.

Emperor Zhou was reading on the couch, two palace maids in green were massaging his legs, one was rubbing his shoulders, and a little eunuch was grinding ink.

Bao Ning looked at this scene, and felt that there were too many people, and two was that there were too many women. There were so many women, too many.

She glanced at Pei Yuan, and the two of them bowed and saluted. The Emperor of Zhou put down the book and said gently, "Please stand up."

After the emperor finished speaking, Jiang Yan shouted, "Serve the meal!" The

Emperor of Zhou motioned them to sit down with his hand. Baoning sat down nervously, and every move was in accordance with etiquette, fearing that she would make a mistake. She didn't like such occasions. She had to relax and be casual when eating. Why was she so formal? Being the concubine of the Emperor of Zhou was also uncomfortable enough. She had to behave like a perfect wooden man, flawless, but there were always times when she choked and choked when eating. Would those concubines dare to burp in front of the Emperor of Zhou?

Baoning thought again, would the Emperor of Zhou burp himself? He had to maintain his dignified and superior appearance at all times. This kind of vulgar thing seemed to be very embarrassing. Then will he not burp anymore? Will he have a runny nose if he has a cold? Will he have an upset stomach if he eats something bad?

Oh, yes, the dishes cooked in the kitchen will not make people upset. If the emperor gets sick, the whole family will be in trouble.

Baoning was thinking wildly in her mind, but on the surface she was sitting quietly and gently. But Pei Yuan knew her well, and he knew at a glance that she was definitely not thinking of anything good, so he pulled her hand under the table. Baoning immediately came to her senses. She glanced at Emperor Zhou and saw that he didn't seem to say anything. She breathed a sigh of relief that she didn't miss anything because of her distraction.

She straightened her back a little, glanced at Pei Yuan, and thought that Pei Yuan was also a prince.

It's just that they have been living like ordinary couples for a long time, and she almost forgot that Pei Yuan had such a prominent identity.

...After returning to the capital, can they continue such an ordinary and happy life?

Jiang Yan arranged for the palace maids to serve the dishes. Baoning now understood why the palace maids had to line up in a line. The dishes were served one by one, just like the game she played with her sisters when she was a child, passing the flower. The dishes were served quietly and quickly. After a while, the table was full of meat, vegetables, soup and fish.

Emperor Zhou asked Baoning with concern: "I don't know what you like to eat. I asked the kitchen to make some of the girls' favorites. See if you like it." Baoning

quickly stood up and thanked him.

Pei Yuan also thanked him.

Emperor Zhou smiled and said, "Sit down quickly."

Baoning put rice into her mouth one by one. She couldn't swallow the food. It tasted like chewing wax. She was afraid that the noise would be too loud when she chewed. This meal was really boring. Pei Yuan also restrained himself a lot. He sat upright and occasionally said a few words to Emperor Zhou. He talked and laughed calmly without any oily words. Baoning was not familiar with his appearance. But it was in line with the demeanor of a prince.

Halfway through the meal, Baoning couldn't eat anymore. She stared at a piece of radish cut into flowers in the bowl, wondering in her heart, if she wanted to cut it like this, how should she cut it? Emperor Zhou suddenly said, "Lord Lin from the Ministry of Justice came a while ago and took Jia Ling away for interrogation. Within a quarter of an hour, he confessed everything."

Baoning took a breath, knowing that this meal had reached a critical moment. Emperor Zhou really didn't invite them to dinner simply to express his father-son relationship.

Pei Yuan asked, "What did you confess?"

"I accepted bribes from horse bandits of the previous dynasty, and I was confused for a moment and did something wrong." The Emperor of Zhou said slowly, "Marquis Chongyuan is here too. I didn't want to punish him. He asked to retire and return home. I agreed, but I demoted his title to a baron."

Pei Yuan said, "Your Majesty is kind and generous, and you are a role model for all people."

The Emperor of Zhou said again, "Xiao'er's injury is very serious. He can't walk. He needs to rest here with you for a few days."

Baoning tightened his fingers holding the chopsticks, felt bitter on the tip of his tongue, and felt unfair. The Emperor of Zhou really believed Pei Xiao's words. Maybe he also had doubts, but he still believed it in the end.

Pei Yuan said calmly, "His Royal Highness has worked hard and made great contributions. The servants who serve him will certainly do their best."

The atmosphere was stagnant. Emperor Zhou frowned, wanting to say something, but he didn't say anything.

Just when he was embarrassed, he suddenly heard Jiang Yan yelling outside, "Hey, where did this dog come from? Stop it quickly, don't disturb the holy chariot!"

Dog? Bao Ning was startled and looked over. He saw Ah Huang running towards him following the smell. It was agile and rushed left and right, easily bypassing the eunuchs who blocked the way and rushed into the house. Emperor Zhou stared at it in astonishment. Bao Ning suddenly felt dizzy and secretly cursed Ah Huang for being greedy and having no vision!

She stood up again and was about to apologize, but the Emperor Zhou was interested: "Did you raise this dog?"

Pei Yuan said: "Yes."

"It's quite strong and smart, quite good." The Emperor Zhou was not angry, but was glad that the puppy that came in eased the atmosphere in the room. He wanted to give Pei Yuan some face, so he waved to Jiang Yan at the door and ordered, "I just got a few pieces of yellow jade a few days ago. The jade box accidentally fell to the ground and broke a corner of the jade. It's a pity. You can find a craftsman to repair it and give it to this dog."

Baoning didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and could only thank him on behalf of Ah Huang. Emperor Zhou asked Jiang Yan to take Ah Huang away, and said to Pei Yuan with a smile: "It's good to raise a dog. Dogs are loyal."

Baoning's smile fell again. She didn't know if she was being suspicious, but she always felt that Emperor Zhou had something in mind.

Pei Yuan said: "If Your Majesty likes it, I will present a good dog to Your Majesty in the future."

Emperor Zhou smiled and didn't answer. He paused for a moment and suddenly asked: "Yuan'er, am I not a good father?"

Pei Yuan said: "Your Majesty is very good and is a role model for your sons."

"Don't say these polite words to me." Emperor Zhou sighed, "In fact, I know that I don't love you enough on weekdays. I always urge and blame you, and rarely care about you. But people in the royal family have heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. Compared with ordinary people, there are too many things that they have to do. Sometimes I am also afraid that one day there will be no one left by my side."

He went on to say: "I was reading a book by Sima Gong, and it happened to talk about Emperor Wu. I felt it was a pity. Emperor Wu had a brilliant military career, but his later years were bleak and filled with regret. Just because of the slander of a eunuch, the Wu Gu case was created. Empress Wei died, Crown Prince Liu Ju died, and so many people died."

Emperor Zhou asked, "Do you think Emperor Wu was a pity?"

No one answered him, and he was also No need to answer, he said in a steady voice: "So some things are better left unclear. I will not continue investigating today's assassination case. I don't want to be Liu Che in my later years. I would rather let him go than kill him by mistake. When Xiao'er's injury heals, I will send him to southern Xinjiang for a few years. It will also be a training. Yuan'er, you should return to the court. Don't go to northern Xinjiang. I am old and need you very much."

Pei Yuan chuckled. He probably knew what Emperor Zhou meant. Emperor Zhou wanted him and Pei Xiao to be fair. Last year he committed a crime, and Emperor Zhou forgave him. This year Pei Xiao committed a crime, and he also wanted to forgive him once. They were all sons, and he felt sorry for them. He was willing to be a tolerant father and give them a chance to correct their mistakes.

Pei Yuan felt it was ironic, but he still wanted to thank him: "Thank you, Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhou said in a gentle voice: "The food is cold, let's eat."

...

After another quarter of an hour, this seemingly "joyful" dinner was finally over. After leaving and walking out of the yard, Bao Ning breathed a sigh of relief, holding Pei Yuan's arm and complaining in a low voice: "Too strict, I didn't eat enough, I'm obviously at home, but it doesn't feel like home at all."

"I've been like this for so many years. I used to like it in the barracks the most, and I was most afraid of returning to the Beijing Hui Palace. I ate at the same table with him, and I never ate enough." Pei Yuan led Bao Ning to his yard and smiled, "You are quite promising, you are not afraid of the scene, didn't the emperor praise you, saying that you are very elegant."

Bao Ning proudly puffed out her chest: "That's natural."

Pei Yuan pulled her: "Take a quick walk, go home and stew chicken soup before it gets dark. After drinking, take a bath and go to bed early."

Bao Ning said: "You haven't taken the medicine yet."

"Then we have to hurry up." Pei Yuan looked down at her, "When I was going out just now, I ran into Aunt Liu. Didn't you see what she was carrying in her bag?"

Bao Ning asked, "What good things did she carry?"

Pei Yuan said, "The claws are exposed. It's a chicken. It's still alive. The legs are long. It should be very fat."

"Then hurry up." This time it was Bao Ning who was anxious, "Go home and kill it!"

...

They hurriedly walked hand in hand past a remote house and did not notice the man standing in the window.

Pei Xiao watched them from a distance. The wind blew over him, and he felt his throat itchy. He put his fist against his lower lip and coughed twice. Chang Xi

stood beside him worriedly: "Your Highness, lie down and take a rest. Your injury will heal quickly."

"How can I sleep?"

Baoning and the others had already walked far away. After turning a corner, their backs could no longer be seen. Pei Xiao withdrew his gaze indifferently and looked at the blood that he coughed out of his palm.

He asked: "Have you found Gongsun Xu's whereabouts?"

Chang Xi shook his head: "Gongsun Xu's Qinggong is very good. He comes and goes without a trace. He is also carefree and not bound by one place. It is impossible to find him."

Pei Xiao was silent for a while, and then said: "Keep an eye on Yuanzi. Don't let the Crown Princess get close to her again. Don't let her step out of the yard for nearly three months."

Chang Xi agreed.

A man dressed as a servant came in from outside. Chang Xi recognized him as their subordinate Fu Quan. Pei Xiao raised his brow, and Chang Xi hurried to open the door to welcome him in, and asked nervously: "What's wrong, what happened?"

Fu Quan whispered: "Your Highness once took in a man named Zhao Qian and placed him next to the Fourth Prince?"

Chang Xi's eyebrows jumped: "Yes, but then he suddenly disappeared, and no one knows where he went."

"He was sold to a brothel!" Fu Quan said, "He had his first customer the night before yesterday. He said that five or six strong men came and tortured him badly... There," Fu Quan glanced at the position below Chang Xi, "he said that there was a patron who didn't know the seriousness of the matter broke his penis. Hiss - Mr. Turtle abandoned him and sent him to the clinic, that's why he had the chance to sneak out."

Chang Xi couldn't help but clamp his legs together and asked in surprise: "Break it, how can it be so cruel?!"

Fu Quan said: "Who knows, I guess it might be the order of the Fourth Prince."

Pei Xiao frowned.

Fu Quan added: "That guy said he had intelligence in his hand, and he saw the Fourth Prince and the Fourth Prince's wife go to the Chongyuan Marquis Mansion together to meet the Crown Prince's wife. The Fourth Prince was dressed in disguise, which was not normal. He was hiding under the car at the time and heard their conversation. The Fourth Prince had already figured out Your Highness's plan and was going to discuss countermeasures with the Crown Prince's wife..."

Chang Xi gritted his teeth and said: "Farts, farts are so stinky! What's the use of saying it after it has happened!"

Fu Quan looked at Pei Xiao, and asked doubtfully: "Your Highness, this Zhao Qian knows too much, should we kill him, or?"

"Leave him here." Pei Xiao said with his hands behind his back, "Treat him well, and I will see him in person after I return to Beijing."

Fu Quan took the order and left.

Chang Xi looked at Pei Xiao in confusion and asked softly, "Your Highness, what use is this Zhao Qian?"

"The Fourth Prince's wife has not met many people, and Zhao Qian is one of them. She must know something, which is beneficial to us." Pei Xiao slowly walked back to the bed, sat down, and his eyes became firm. "I originally wanted to separate them because of my personal feelings, but now I have to do it. This Bao Ning, if she still stays with Pei Yuan, it will be too harmful to us! I heard that the weapon in Pei Yuan's hand when he rescued him was made by her?"

Chang Xi nodded.

Pei Xiao's eyes moved slightly, thinking about something.

...

In the room, the lights were on. Bao Ning had already cooked the fat and tender chicken, and it was time to boil the soup. A dark purple pot was placed in the middle of the table.

Pei Yuan picked up a chicken leg, put it in the bowl, turned it over, and asked with some disgust: "Why is the leg of this chicken so black?"

"It's a white boneless chicken, with white hair and black legs." Baoning poured him some soup, "Eat more, it's good for your health. Aunt Liu said she caught it especially for you."

Pei Yuan obediently drank the whole pot of soup, and leaned back in the chair after eating and drinking. Baoning asked someone to clear the bowls and chopsticks. After watching the servants leave, Pei Yuan suddenly stood up, closed the door, and pulled Baoning to the inner room.

Baoning staggered and asked: "What are you doing in such a hurry?"

Pei Yuan said: "The legs of that black chicken are too dazzling. I feel uncomfortable looking at it. Show me your white legs, so that I can clear my eyes!"